Week 4 High School Football Picks: Trying to recover from Salisbury stakes in the heart

Need a caffeine boost as I enter the stretch run of a 7 games in 9 days schedule, which included that Triple-A National Championship Game at Coca-Cola Park, two high school football games, two Lehigh football games and two Eagles games.

I think both me and the Eagles need a break this Sunday after I do the Freedom-Emmaus game tonight (follow me on Twitter @KeithGroller for updates) and then the Lehigh-Princeton game on Saturday night.

As for the high school picks it seems to me that every year there's one team that you just can't get right.

That team for me this year is clearly Salisbury.

I was 17-6 last week with the picks and have settled in a rut at 46-23 overall for the season, nowhere near as good as I have been in the past or should be this year.

This week I absolutely guarantee I will get the Falcons correct since they play Catasauqua, pound-for-pound the best football team in the area and probably our best local shot at making a run at a state title.

If I don't get this one right, I will personally buy every member of the Salisbury team a pizza or the sandwich of their choice and vow never to pick their games again.

As for my personal "Dandy Dozen," there's very little change:

1. Easton

2. Whitehall

3. Parkland

4. ES South

5. Liberty

6. Pennridge

7. Catasauqua

8. Bethlehem Cathlic

9. Nazareth

10. Emmaus

11. Stroudsburg

12. Freedom

Now on to this week's predictions:

LEHIGH VALLEY CONFERENCE

Easton 34, CCHS 14 -- It's way too early to bury anyone, but it looks like maybe graduation has finally caught up to the Vikings and their remarkable four-year run as district champs could be over.

Bethlehem Catholic 41, Northampton 7-- We're hearing that in the new super conference configuration, the Golden Hawks may be put in a division with the Mountain Valley Conference schools. Heard some Becahi folks aren't too happy about that, but considering the alternative, I wouldn't gripe too much.

Emmaus 21, Freedom 20-- This is where I am headed. Could be one of the most competitive games of the night. The Green Hornets have a knack for playing the close ones. Winner stays alive in the conversation for a district/subregional berth. Loser is probably out.

Whitehall 42, Nazareth 28-- The highest scoring game of the night perhaps. Saw both of these teams play Liberty in the past two weeks and give the edge to the Zephyrs, who are a little more physical up front. Still, Jordan Gray and Saquon Barkley will light up the scoreboard. My man "The Weave" is going with his Blue Eagles, 38-31.

Parkland 27, Liberty 20-- The game of the night in the LVC. Both have big ones next week -- the Trojans play Whitehall and the Hurricanes meet Bethlehem Catholic, but they can't look ahead. Winner will have lots of momentum. I give a slight edge to Parkland defense.

MOUNTAIN VALLEY CONFERENCE

Pleasant Valley 21, Lehighton 14 -- Lots of excitement these days in Lehighton as Tom McCarroll and his staff have done an excellent job energizing this program. PV seems to be back after a disappointing opening-night loss to Nazareth and the Bears feature a polished quarterback in Brandon Leap, who will be pressured by a physcial, swarming Tribe defense.

East Stroudsburg South 48, Allen 7 --It was nice that Allen's Courtney Watson set a school record with a big rushing performance last week against East Stroudsburg North. Allen has been playing football a long time and 237 yards is impressive. But he and the Canaries will find out out there's a big difference between North and South when it comes to East Stroudsburg.

Stroudsburg 28, PM West 0 -- The Mounties will stay in the district playoff hunt until the end. Panthers may be looking ahead to better times in basketball.

Dieruff 34, Pius X 27-- This game is now a 1:30 start, not 1 p.m. Expect another shootout here. This may be the first, and only, time these schools will play and it should be a treat in Roseto with lots of offensive performers to showcase.

Quakertown 20, Pocono Mountain East 14-- I still findthis to be a curious matchup considering Q-town and Swiftwater are not exactly next door to one another. Cardinals defensive coordinator Frank Scagliotta will have his hands full trying to stop a power Quakertown ground attack, but the bigger concern for the Cardinals is taking care of the ball, something they didn't do against Lehighton last week.

ES North 27, Valley View 20-- When I think about Valley View I will always think about that incredible PIAA 3A quarterfinal game of two years ago with Central Catholic at BASD Stadium, the one that ended up 61-54. This Valley View team, however, is not nearly as potent as that one.

COLONIAL LEAGUE

Catasauqua 53, Salisbury 13-- Finally, maybe, possibly I will get a Salisbury game right. You can't stop the Roughies, you can only hope to hold them under 60.

Saucon Valley 20, Palmerton 14 -- Most competitive Colonial League game of the weekend. Panthers have a shot to stay in the District 11 3A playoff hunt, but it's tougher for them than some of the other contenders because they play a lot of 2A opponents which hurts the power rating.

Southern Lehigh 33, Northwestern 20-- Spartans are another 3A squad eyeing a potential district berth. Kudos to Josh Snyder and the Tigers, but the schedule gets tougher from here with Notre Dame and Palmerton upcoming after this one.

Notre Dame 40, Bangor 14-- Quite a turnaround from those winless seasons of 2008, '09 and '10 for the Crusaders. Chuck Muller should merit some coach-of-the-year consideration.

Palisades 33, Northern Lehigh 7-- Nice that Northern Lehigh is honoring its 2003 team which created such excitement in the tight-knit Slatington/Walnutport community on the road to that snowy weekend in Hershey. It will be nice to have Jim Tkach back in that stadium and I am sure it will be an emotional, bittersweet night for him.

Pen Argyl 34, Wilson 6 -- Notre Dame is proof that things can change in Colonial League football for the better and the Warriors are proof that sometimes things can change in the other direction, too.

OTHERS

Mahanoy Area 26, Tamaqua 20-- Heartfelt condolences to the entire Tamaqua community and especially senior player Austin Miorelli after the tragic loss of his father, Daniel, this past week. I am sure the team, the school and community, will rally around Austin. This is a big game, but when you lose someone so dear, football is put in its proper perspective in a hurry.

Jim Thorpe 27, Panther Valley 7 -- Jim Thorpe is my Salisbury of the North because I believe I am 0-3 with the Olympians so far this season. I am pretty confident about this one, however.

Pennridge 28, Academy Park 14 -- Battle of 3-0s.

Conwell-Egan 21, Marian 7 -- Hard to believe the Colts are 0-3 and have been outscored 70-12 over the past two weeks.

Pottsville 21, Reading 14 -- Crimson Tide definitely needed that close win over Blue Mountain last week. New Pottsville coach Tom McGeoy is entrenched with the Tide, but there are a lot of Lehigh football fans who wish he still had some eligibility left and would come back and play linebacker for the Mountain Hawks.

That's it. Seems like the weather is going to cooperate again and keep it dry, at least until Saturday night. As always, get out to the games in person, and drive home safely.

Current Comments

Keith, in your honest opinion, what would be the score if Easton played Catty?

Posted By: Bob | Sep 20, 2013 1:00:04 PM

It'll be nice to see you tonight ! Some of us actually like you there . And of course I appreciate when the local High School scene is highlighted .

Posted By: CHEK | Sep 20, 2013 2:24:53 PM

To Bob:
I'd say something like Easton 49, Catty 21.
But remember, Easton is fourth largest school in District 11 with 1,149 male students. Catty is third smallest in 2A with 227 male students, according to District 11 enrollment figures. It's sort of like comparing apples to oranges, or a Penn State to a Lehigh.

Posted By: Keith Groller | Sep 20, 2013 2:35:17 PM

Although i think the score would be a little worse, i understand what youre saying. It just bothers me to hear people say they would be a top 3 teams in the LVC. With the amount of kids they have, and their size, they would struggle to play those teams every week, physically.

Posted By: Bob | Sep 20, 2013 4:38:56 PM

Way to call the Easton/CCHS game Keith! 34-14 right on the nose! The Vikes fought hard though and gotta give their defense a lot of credit to limit that potent Rover offense to 10 first half points!

Posted By: Orie | Sep 21, 2013 12:44:04 AM

Easton would kill Catty. As would Whitehall. However, they are going to kill most teams in the LVC. Catty has some terrific players and they would beat some teams in the LVC, but they would not challenge for a top 3 spot. Keith, you better give the Zephyr "D" more credit. They smothered Nazareth. That is an awesome group of kids on the defensive side. Whitehall will shut down Parkland next week and get a comfortable win.